Electric belt



(No Model.

D. P. ANDRUS. ELECTRIC BELT.

No. 479,147. Pzatented July 19,1892

r 3511771 Mom 1 24 8 UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

DUANE P. ANDRUS, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

ELECTRIC BELT.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 479,147, dated July 19,1892.

Application filed December 14, 1891- $erial No. 415,019. (No model.)

To aZZ whom it may concern.-

Be it known that l, DUANE P. ANDRUS, of the city of St. Louis and Stateof Missouri, have invented certain new and useful Improvements inElectric Belts, of which the following is a full, clear, and exactdescription, reference being had to the accompanying drawings, forming apart hereof.

My invention relates to improvements in electric belts; and it consistsin the novel arrangement and combination of parts, as will be more fullyhereinafter described, and designated in the claims.

In the drawings, Figure 1 is a top plan view of a belt constructedaccording to my inventron. Fig. 2 is aside elevation thereof. Fig. 3 isa cross-section taken on the line a; 00 of Fig. 2, showing thearrangement of the pockets within which the battery is placed. Fig. 4 isa rear plan view of one of the electrodes which I employ. Fig. 5 isaperspective view of a metallic strip which is used in connection withthe electrodes. Fig. 6 is atop plan view of the battery, which is shownhere composed of two cells. Fig. 7 is a perspective view showing themechanical connection between the cells. Fig. 8 is a perspective view ofthe zinc plate which is carried by the belt. Fig. 9 is a perspectiveview of the copper plate which I employ in constructing the battery.

Referring to the drawings, 1 represents a band or belt, which is adaptedto pass around the body and is provided with a suitable fas teningdevice or buckle 2, by means of which the ends of the belt are united.

3 represents a pocket or pockets, which is movable upon said band orbelt and, as represented in the drawings, one is movable upon the bandand another is attached to the lower 0 edge of the same and carriedthereby. By

colating through and soiling the clothes and coming in contact with thebody.

The pocket or pockets 3 is composed of a strip 5 of flexible materialand to one side thereof is secured a loop 6, near the upper edgethereof, through which the belt or band 1 is adapted to be passed. Tothe opposite side of said strip 5 is secured two pockets '7 and 8, whichare located one below the other, within which the removable pocket 4 andthe battery is adapted to be placed. By the construction 'of the, pocketor pockets as above described I am enabled to move the battery to anyposition upon the belt, and thereby bring the electrode in contact withany desired portion of the body in proximity to the belt.

I employ any suitable number of electrodes and arrange them upon thebelt as may be deemed desirable, the construction of which I shall nowproceed to describe.

9 represents a circular metallic plate, which constitutes the electrode,the convex surface of which is adapted to come in contact with the bodyof the wearer. To the rear or con.- cave surface of saidplate is secureda U- shaped wire 10, the parallel arms 11 of which are free from contactwith said plate and one of said arms terminating into an eye 12, towhich one end of one of the conducting-cords is adapted to be attached.

13 represents a metallic strip, which is suitably shaped so as toencircle theband or belt 1, the ends 14 of which are adapted to bepassed under the arms 11 of the wire 10, carried by the electrode. Vhenthe strip 13 is attached to the electrode, as above described, the poles9 will come in contact with the surface of the plate 9 and thereby makecontact therewith. The strip, 13 is preferably constructed ofspring-steel, in order that it may be easily removed from the electrode,and, further, by the use of said metal the poles 14 will constantly bearagainst the surface of said electrode.

18 represents the battery, which is composed of any number of cells 19,and as said cells are constructed similarly I shall only proceed todescribe one minutely.

20 represents the outer casing or shell ofthe cell, which is constructedof a thin sheet of ICO zinc or other oxidizable metal and having formedtherein two holes 21, through which a copper wire 22 is passed and is incontact with said copper, as shown in Fig. 7 of the drawings.

23 represents a U-shapcd plate, also of zinc, and is provided with asuitable number of perforations 2st, through which the oxidized fluid isadapted to pass. letween said outer shell of zinc 20 and the U-shapedplate 23 is placed any amount of dielectric absorbent material, which isadapted to hold enough of the oxidizable fluid in order to chemicallyeffeet the zinc and copper plates used in the construction of the cells.

25 represents a copper plate, which isfolded upon itself, forming avertical opening 26, through which the wire connection 22, leading fromone of the other cells, is adapted to be passed, the ends of said wirepassing through holes 27, formed in said plate 25.

Between the U shaped plate 23 and the copper plate 25 is also placed anyamount of absorbent material, and which holds in absorption a sufficientamount of oxidizable fluid. The absorbent material 28, or that lastdescribed, separates the zinc plate 23 from the copper plate 25, whichisabsolulely necessary in constructing the cells of the battery.

From the foregoing description it will be seen that the copper plate ofone cell is electrically connected with the zinc plate of the other,thus forming a voltaic couple and transmitting the galvanic current andincreasing the electro-motive force of the battery in proportion to thenumber of cells used.

29 represent S-shaped fastening devices, which are carried by each endof the conducting-cords 10 and 17, and by means of which the said cordsmay be electrically connected with the positive and negative poles ofthe battery.

Referring to Fig. 2 of the drawings, it will be seen that I use acomlucting-cord 30, which cord connects theeells carried by the pockets7 and 8, and which when united, as shown in said figure, form a completebattery. The opposite ends of the conducting-cords 1(3 and 17, or theseends not provided with the S- shaped fastening devices,are electricallyconnected to the eyes 12, formed on one of the arms 11 of the U-shapedwire 10, conveying the current to the electrode or electrodes.

By the construction of electrodes as shown the same are adapted to beslipped along the belt and adjusted to whatever portion of the bodydesired.

By the construction of the cells as shown I- obtain a greater surfacefrom both the oxidizable metal and also the conducting metal inproportion to the size of the cells, which is very desirable ininventions of this character. By forming openings 2t in the copper-plate23 the amount of oxidizable or exciting iluid is equalized in theabsorbent material, and thereby produces a steady current. Theoxidizablc or exciting fluid used is preferably acetic acid oracidulatcd water, within which the cells of the battery maybeirnmersed,the absorbent material employed holding a sufficientquantity in absorption to produce the desired effect.

llaving fully described my invention, what I claim is 1. An electricbelt having a pocket or pockets adapted to move upon said belt, abattery placed within the same, conductingcords leading from thepositive and negative poles of said battery, an electrode or electrodeselectrically connected with the opposite end of said connecting-cord,and a U- shaped wire or wires attached to the concave surface of saidelectrode, embstantially as set forth.

2. In an electric belt, an electrode or electrodes, consisting of acircular plate 9, a U- shaped wire attached thereto, having arms ll outof contact with said plate, a metallic strip adapted to be held to thesaid electrode or electrodes by the said arms, and conducti ngcords l6and 17, leading from the positive and negative poles of the battery andcoin nected to one end of the insulated wire or wires 15 of said stripor strips, the opposite end of said wire or wires 15 in electricalcontact with said electrode or electrodes, substantially as set forth.

3. An electric belt having a battery composed of a series of cells, eachof which consists of a plate 20, of oxidizable metal, havingperforation. 21, a copper wire 22, passing through the said openings andadapted to connect said plate with the next cell, a copper plate 25,adapted to receive the ends of the wires 22, and a suitable amount ofabsorbent material interposed between each of the said plates,substantially as set forth.

a. An electric belt having a battery composed of a series of cells. eachof which con sists of a plate 20, of oxidizable metal, havingperforations 21, a copper wire 22, passing through the said openings andadapted to connect said plate with the next cell, and a copper plate 25,adapted to receive the ends of the wires 22, substantially as set forth.

5. An electric belt having a battery composed of a series of cells, eachof which consists of a plate 20, of oxidizable metal, havingperforations 21, a copper wire 22, passing through the said openings andadapted to connect said plate with the next cell, and a copper plate 25,provided with perforations 27, through which the ends of the copper wire22 are adapted to pass, substantially as set forth.

In testimony whereof I affix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

DUANE I. ANDRUS.

Witnesses:

ALFRED A. EIGKS,

C. F. KELLER.

IIO

